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UMOJA NEWSLETTER 2019 - Annual | MOVING FROM NEWCOMER TO NEIGHBOUR
In This Issue
Message From the Executive Director
Message from the ED Surrey continues to be one of the Minority Newcomer Women, we have
biggest recipient of immigrants and expanded our outreach base as well as
Dad’s Outreach Program refugees coming to British Columbia. our partnership connections. We are
Umoja is strategically positioned in grateful to our funders and supporters
Summer camp and Promoting Surrey which is the fastest growing for making us meet our budget
Wellness city in BC. We have continued to requirements. In October, we had a
receive new comers from areas such successful gala, “The Night in the
International Programs Update as the Middle East, Africa, and Serengeti” which showcased excellent
Central America. The majority of community support. We raised over
families accessing services at Umoja $23,000 which will go to support our
have multiple needs and face youth programs, and literacy and life
multiple barriers towards their skills programs, which are usually
settlement and integration process. under funded. Thank you to our
This year, Umoja Operation community sponsors, funders,
Compassion has stood up to the supporters and volunteers, without
challenge and provided programs you the work of Umoja is not made
tailored to the needs of newcomer possible.
families. This year with an addition
of the Dad’s outreach program and Amos Kambere, Executive Director
the Digital Connect for Visible
Newcomer Dad’s
Program:
Highlights
In 2018 Umoja saw a need to better support
newcomer dads as they settled in Canada. Dad’s
often have a strong urgency to attend English
language classes and obtaining employment to
support their families. This can leave little time
for additional programming and understandably
so! Through the support of the United Way of
the Lower Mainland, Umoja was able to start the
Newcomer Dad’s Outreach Program. Since the
inception of the program there have been many
highlights and over 45 dad’s have been reached!
2019 has been a very successful year for many of
the dad’s. Some dad’s were totally engaged in
their communities in an unprecedented way;
doing volunteer work mainly at their children’s
schools. Others decided to come out of their
comfort zone, joining adult schools to improve
their English, so that they can support
themselves and their kids. The majority of dad’s
became more aware of their rights and
responsibilities as new immigrants to Canada.
Dads are more convinced now than ever that
change is a positive sign for coping with their
new place of living. They have realized that
what was culturally considered as taboo in the
past, eg. a wife driving a car, is now a regular
practice, that would help their family function
better. In October the program celebrated the
first dad getting his Canadian Citizenship! He
was very happy and thankful for all the support
he received from Umoja since he’s been living in
Surrey.
UMOJA NEWSLETTER FALL 2019 | MOVING FROM NEWCOMER TO NEIGHBOUR | 2
Summer Camp and Promoting
Wellness
Umoja provided another summer camp opportunity for
over 50 children in July and August. This year the camp
ran a little differently with three, two week sessions
being offered and basing the camp out of Umoja, instead
of a nearby school as we’ve done years previously. Our
staff provided an opportunity for children to learn, grow
and engage in specific activities that focus on building
confidence and positive self-expression. We had staff
design and create curriculum specifically for kids
attending the program to ensure a relevant and
supportive outlet for children to build life skills and share
experiences. To the core of Umoja’s programming, we
focus on ensuing children participate in explorative
crafts, games and community places via fieldtrips. It was
obvious that children were building friendships, learning
about new cultures and feeling a sense of belonging
during camp time. Outside play is always an important
component to the summer camp and there was no
shortage of that this year!! Kids were provided park time
each day with games, sports and free time to enjoy with
several visits to the nearby waterpark! Overall the Umoja
summer camp continues to be an opportunity for
newcomer children to receive mentorship and guidance
while navigating their new social environment. A huge
thank you to our staff and volunteers for making the 2019
Summer Camp a huge success!!
UMOJA NEWSLETTER FALL 2019 | MOVING FROM NEWCOMER TO NEIGHBOUR | 3
International Projects | Rwentutu Community School
Our International funders,
Umoja Continues to engage in
Classrooms for Africa, St. Mark
international development by
Lutheran church and Broadway
supporting initiatives by our members,
church have continued to provide
to improve the quality of life in the
capital funding so that the kids of
developing world. Rwentutu
Rwentutu village have access to
Community School this year ended up
education, clean water and healthy
with 190 kids in spite of the
meals. A new program at Rwentutu
community being hit with draught.
called the MEG outreach program
We have supported these Rwentutu Thank you to our long standing
started at the beginning of this year
projects in Western Ugandan for 13
has attracted over 50 women who supporter and Donor:
years, the first students to enroll at
are yearning to learn reading and
this school are now in their first year
writing. Among the many activities
University. Thank you to a great
provided by this program are
Ugandan staff and the many
gardening, nutrition, health and
volunteers who have gone to support
hygiene as well as parenting.
them.
Our Generous Donors:
Recognizing Community Partners:
Options Community Services
Diversecity Community Pacific Immigrant Resources
Resources Society Society
Surrey Food Bank St. Matthew’s Church
Progressive Intercultural YMCA – Tong Louie
Community Services
SFU-TD Community
City of Surrey
Engagement Centre
Quest Food Exchange
Fraser Health Authority
School District 36
Surrey Downtown BIA
A Rocha
Community Members
Costco
Broadway Church
RCMP
St. Mark’s Church
Mosaic
UMOJA NEWSLETTER FALL 2019 | MOVING FROM NEWCOMER TO NEIGHBOUR
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